In the recent visa update, there is not possible automatic process for visa extension in Australia. Even though if your current visa is going to expire and cannot return to your home country for some reasons you will have to apply for a new one. Thus, you will follow the whole student visa process once more.

To be on the safe side, you should start renewing the visa at least 3 months before your current visa expires.

These are the basic reasons where you might have to apply for an extension of a student visa:

Your current visa expired before you complete the course, or

Submitted postgraduate research thesis, or

Commenced a new course of study, or

Graduate research candidature has been extended.

How to apply for a new student visa?

To apply for a new student visa do not wait for your current visa to expire. The entire process of student visa will take place for extending the visa, so start the processing 3 months before the current visa expires.

You will usually be issued a Bridging Visa A (BVA) if you are applying within Australia. A BVA permits you to legitimately remain in Australia when awaiting your visa and will take effect once your present student visa expires. We have come up with the step by step guide to help you in applying for a new student visa:

Step 1-  Enroll in a course

Firstly, you will have to enroll on a new course and get your Confirmation of Enrolment(CoE) from your chosen university. If you can’t extend your studies, you can’t extend your student visa.

Step 2- Health Examinations and Extend Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Please note that extending your CoE does not automatically extend the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Like your current student visa,  you will need new health insurance. For this, you have to contact your current OSHC provider. Up to the expiry date of your new student visa, extend your OSHC scheme.

Also, you will have to take part in a new set of Health Examinations for the new student visa application if the last time you examined was over 12 months ago.

Step 3- Collect Required Documents

Till this step, you will have the important documents (CoE and secured OSHC), so now all you have to do is collect your paperwork for your applications. For this, the most reliable way is the Department of Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool. It will assist you in sorting out which documents you need to apply for your application.

Student visa documents will include:

Personal Documents

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

OSHC

Financial capability evidence

Evidence to satisfy the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement

Step 4-  Submit Application

Attach all the required documents in your ImmiAccount and apply for the visa. This process will cost you AUD 620. You can apply online with the Department of Home Affairs. You can send the application on your own or use a registered migration agent.

Check your email periodically for correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs concerning your application status after you apply.

Step 5-  Outcome of application

Be sure to check your visa status with the university once your student visa is granted.

Even your visa gets rejected do not worry. Often more data is required by a case officer. They will contact you with an IMMI S56 Request for more information. If the visa gets simply refused you still can appeal the decision using immigration experts.

Hope this blog helped you with your confusion about renewing the student visa.

So, if you need any help for Australia, you can contact us on our website.

Call us on +61 2 8056 7110.

Email us at info@yespeople.com.au